Personnel update: Bureau of Pardons and Paroles director Cam Ward announces new leadership roles for Stacey Brown, Darrell Morgan, and Rebecca Bensema
Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) Director Cam Ward announced three new leadership positions. Stacey Brown, Darrell Morgan, and Rebecca Bensema all have prior experience within the bureau, and Ward expressed his enthusiasm for the leadership each one will bring to their new positions. Ward stated on Twitter, “Very excited about this diverse team that will help us move forward with our mission for those on probation and parole. Thank you all for your service.” “I believe these three officers, with their background in law enforcement and pardons and paroles, will do an excellent job in moving forward with our mission to promote public safety and reduce recidivism,” stated Ward in a press release. “They are all extremely qualified career law enforcement officers who will continue to serve our agency well in their new capacities. I look forward to the hard work ahead with these outstanding assistant directors.” Long-time officer Stacey Brown has been named the Assistant Director for Field Operations and will oversee the Bureau’s 62 field offices and more than 275 field officers across 14 districts. Officer Brown will become one of three highly experienced officers in newly developed executive positions for Field Services who report directly to the agency director. “I am humbled and excited for this opportunity to carry out the mission of maintaining a good law enforcement approach to monitoring those in our jurisdiction with a focus on public safety. I appreciate Director Ward for selecting me to serve in this position,” stated Brown. Officer Darrell Morgan is now the Assistant Director of Facilities Management. This position will be an important part of ABPP’s ongoing mission to provide intensive reentry services to the probation and parole population in Alabama. Officer Morgan has been serving in field services leadership roles since 2010 and began his career as an officer with the Bureau in 1998. Morgan said, “Having been engaged in almost every aspect of Bureau function throughout my career, I appreciate the Director providing me the opportunity for contribution to this new frontier.” Rebecca Bensema, who has served the agency for many years as a law enforcement officer and reentry specialist, has been appointed as the Assistant Director for Reentry. Officer Bensema will continue in her duties overseeing the Bureau’s Day Reporting Centers, PREP Center, and all other rehabilitation programs. Officer Bensema began her career as an officer with the Bureau in September 2001. “I am absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to further the reentry and rehabilitation mission of the Bureau. I vow to give my best effort to the agency’s goals of substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, and job training with public and private partners to reduce recidivism,” said Bensema. “I am thankful for the opportunities that have been provided by the Bureau over the years and am excited to see what the future holds for special populations.”
Alabama board to resume parole hearings
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles is resuming parole hearings after a two-month stoppage. The newly appointed director of the agency, Charlie Graddick, told a news conference Monday the board will hold regular hearings beginning Tuesday. The former state attorney general and Mobile County circuit judge says inmates don’t have a right to parole. He says they must earn the privilege of an early release. And he is advocating for extra care in cases involving violent crimes. Alabama’s prisons are badly overcrowded, and advocacy groups are expressing concern about Graddick’s remarks. More than 600 hearings were postponed when Graddick cancelled hearings that were scheduled for September and October. He says the delay was required because the agency hadn’t brought notification policies into compliance with a new state law. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Parole hearings to resume on November 5
Parole hearings will resume in November after being halted for two months. Charlie Graddick, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, announced Thursday that the hearings will resume Nov. 5. More than 600 hearings had been postponed when Graddick cancelled hearings that were scheduled for September and October. Graddick said the delay was required because the agency had not brought notification policies into compliance with a new state law.Graddick said 627 hearings were delayed. The agency said 117 hearings have so far been set for November. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Parole hearings to resume in November
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles says parole hearings are expected to resume around Nov. 1. The agency made the announcement Wednesday after hundreds of parole hearings had been postponed. The agency said the postponements were necessary after the board’s operations division could not ensure the new director that they were in compliance with a new notification law.Director Charlie Graddick called it an “uncalled-for-situation.” He says he expects to have the system up and running on, or around, Nov. 1.The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles said a total of 627 hearings were postponed that had been scheduled for September and October. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Parole board director, Charlie Graddick places officials on leave
The new director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles has placed his predecessor and two others on leave, citing job performance. The Parole Board said Thursday that Director Charlie Graddick placed three members of the agency’s previous leadership on leave pending disciplinary hearings regarding job performance. They included former director Eddie Cook. Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Graddick to replace Cook under a new law that gives her the authority to appoint the director. An assistant executive director and personnel director are also on leave The action comes during Graddick’s first days on the job. Graddick took over Sept. 1. Jackie Graham, director of the State Personnel Department, said the employees must use their accrued paid leave. She said the process is used during investigations or before disciplinary hearings. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
